Field Trip, Sunday, January 12, 2014: Killdeer Plains

Killdeer Plains is a 9,230-acre wildlife area that is one of Ohio’s best remaining prairies. It contains grassland wildlife habitats dominated by tall grasses such as the big bluestem, as well as pine groves, more than 1,000 acres of marsh, a 360-acre greentree reservoir, an upground reservoir, and 125 ponds ranging from less than an acre to 50 acres in size. We’ll expect to find a range of avian species including owls, woodpeckers, raptors, waterfowl, game birds and song birds. A site map is available at http://www.wcasohio.org/killdeer_plains_map.htm Columbus birder and former AMV member Bill Heck will lead this outing. The group will leave from the former Wal-Mart parking lot (on Locust Street next to McDonald’s) at 10:00 a.m., stopping for lunch on the way. We’ll explore Killdeer Plains beginning about 2:00 p.m., then look for owls after dusk. The return trip to Oxford will be in the evening, with a stop for dinner on the way back. Optionally, individuals may wish to schedule overnight accommodations in the Killdeer Plains area in order to maximize time at the site. Participants should bring binoculars if possible and may wish to pack snack food.